The Labor enquirer., 1887-07-30
AdEscY O. y. u, San Diego,
California, July IL, 1887.


/ CoMRApE HASKELL: Dear Friend, have
received letter from our secretary,
Andrew Furuseth. He informs me that the
el.owners' shipping Office is to be run
for all II Is worth. | started to write you
on this subject many times, but knowing
that you are now the possessor of an
official waste basket felt frightened and
tore the letters up; but the case is press
ing now and | must take courage and
brave the basket.
Well, air, since you left us we have been
practically without policy; nothing but
TO collect dues and go through the routine.
They say in the city that they can do
nothing at present until they get big
treasury. This is very quiet policy for
a union that, so to speak, has not COM
menced to organize yet. How can we be
'organized" when ten thousand morgan
lied English sailors visit this coast every
year and furnish all the scabs needed
every autumn This summer is favorable
for the do nothing but collect dues pol
icy. Freights are good and men Temporal
rily scarce. As long az this IS ue case
everything will be all right, but when
winter sets in and men become plentiful
the old fight will commence anew.
Tie oniy way 10 make The fight a success is
t5organi:e The English sailor. Until this
il done our existence is n very uncertain
thing. We have been talking mot doing
this thing over for long time and of
course it has got to the ears OF the owners
and that is the reason that they are now
running their office for all it is worth.
have been preaching organization for
the last ak months, but the powers that
be say. 'thnt.is what we want, but we must
rat until we are strong enough, and who
is going to organize the English deep
water sailor!' These are the questions
asked and there the matter rests. You
know, on the success of organization
among the English sailors our existence
depends, and why delay II! This Is n
good summer, and the success of being
able this summer To raise the wages Is all
the argument necessary to get men TO
ioin. but YOU know this is momentary and
we must have some policy that when put
before them will be clear enough and with
n reasonable show OF success that will
alay any feeling Of discomfort.
We have tried striking and got beat,
and boycotting with the same result, and
the majority of the thinking men although
they stick to the union through thick and
thin. know In themselves that something
must vet be done before the union can
ever demand justice.
In my opinion, and have watched the
weak points closely, the English sailor is
the one who is now always ready to take
our places, and to go through the office,
aud to come ashore on the representation
of the deep water boarding master. You
remember the last strikes; only for the
number Of English sailors that came in at
that time we would most certainly have
been successful; the something will occur
this summer IL the union men will force
matters and refuse to sail with any but
union men, and things look that way now.
have been trying to get the union to
take hold Of this matter right away but
We have 50 much red tape and routine
that there is no time for anything else
This is tile most important question that
has come before the union and needs i'm
mediate action.
wish TO God that you were here among
among US again. Some of them would be
able to appreciate your worth now. The
vessel owners are now happy: Haskell Is
gone; their horizon is little brighter
But am getting away from my subject.
The English sailor must be organized